Alabama is 5-2 (.714) against Auburn in years that end with the number four, winning the last four meetings in 1964, 1974, 1984 and 1994 ...

The 2004 season marks the 13th time that Alabama or Auburn has entered the game with an undefeated and untied record (excluding 1971 when both teams were 10-0) ...

In the previous 12 games, the undefeated, untied team is 10-2 (.833), with losses coming by Alabama in 1972 and 1989 (both games played on Dec. 2) ...

Alabama is 0-8 (.000) all-time against the No. 2 team in the Associated Press poll ...

Alabama is 0-4 (.000) all-time against Auburn in Tuscaloosa ...

The Crimson Tide lost its first four meetings at Auburn (1989, 1993, 1995 and 1997) before finally winning in its fifth try (1999) ...

Sophomore tailback Kenneth Darby has 71 rushing attempts in his last two games ...

Darby also has 694 rushing yards in his last five games ...

Redshirt freshman DE Wallace Gilberry has 3.5 sacks and six total TFLs in his last two games ...

Senior PK Brian Bostick has made seven straight FGs in SEC play ...

ALABAMA HOSTS UNBEATEN AUBURN

The annual battle for bragging rights takes on extra meaning this season as the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-4, 3-4 SEC) hosts the unbeaten Southeastern Conference Western Division champion No. 2 Auburn Tigers (10-0, 7-0 SEC) in the final regular-season battle for both teams. The eyes of the nation and BCS poll watchers will by on this weekend's showdown as CBS Sports will televise the game from Bryant-Denny Stadium to a national audience. The kickoff for the 69th renewal of the nation's most intense rivalry is set for 2:34 p.m. (CT). The 2004 season marks the fourth time that Auburn has entered the Alabama game with an undefeated record. The Tigers also brought perfect records into the Alabama game in 1957, 1971 and 1993 and are 2-1 against the Crimson Tide the three previous meetings. Alabama is coming off a 26-10 loss at No. 15 LSU last weekend, just its second loss in Baton Rouge since 1970. Auburn enters the game with a 12-game winning streak following its impressive 24-6 win over eighth-ranked Georgia last week on the Plains. The 12-game winning streak is the longest by the Tigers since reeling off 20 straight wins from 1993-94. This is the fifth meeting between these two in-state rivals in Tuscaloosa, with Auburn winning each of the four previous meetings, including 17-7 decision in the last meeting in 2001. Handling the broadcast duties for CBS Sports will be Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter). The game will also be televised on a tape delayed basis by the Crimson Tide Sports Network with David Crane (play-by-play) and Chris Stewart (color). Fans can also tune to the 80-plus station Crimson Tide Sports Network with Eli Gold (play-by-play), Kenny Stabler (analyst) and Tom Roberts (sidelines) describing the action.

THE HEAD COACHES

Coach Mike Shula (10-13, .435) is 6-4 (.600) in his sophomore season as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Shula compiled a 4-9 (.308) record in his rookie season at Alabama last year against the nation's most difficult schedule. The Crimson Tide lost to both teams (Oklahoma and LSU) that played in the BCS National Championship game last season. Shula previously served as an assistant coach in the NFL with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Miami. A three-year letterman at Alabama (1984-86), Shula was a two-time All-SEC selection and threw for over 2,000 yards as a junior (1985), leading Alabama to dramatic come-from-behind wins over Georgia and Auburn. Overall, Shula is 2-3 (.400) as a player and coach against the Tigers, including last year's 28-23 loss in his coaching debut on the Plains. Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville (73-44, .624) is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach and sixth year with the Tigers. He is 48-24 (.667) on the Plains and has the Tigers off to their best start since 1993 when Terry Bowden led his team to a perfect 11-0 season. Auburn has already clinched the SEC Western Division championship. AU has won or shared the West title in three of the last four years. Prior to coming to the Plains, Tuberville was head coach at Ole Miss from 1995-98, where he compiled a 25-20 (.556) record with the Rebels. He is 3-6 (.333) lifetime against Alabama, including a 3-2 (.600) mark with the Tigers.

UP NEXT

Alabama became bowl eligible after its 30-14 win over Miss. State and awaits one of the seven SEC bowl bids to be announced on Sunday, Dec. 5th.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES

*The Alabama-Auburn game is always big and this year is no exception. There are also many activities surrounding this year's game.

*The Alabama men's and women's basketball teams open their season this weekend on the eve of the Alabama-Auburn football game.

*Coach Rick Moody's women's team opens up with a midday game on Friday, Nov. 19 at noon (CT) against Michigan.

*Coach Mark Gottfried's men's team will play two games around this year's Alabama-Auburn game.

*Coming off an Elite Eight appearance last season, the Crimson Tide will open the season on Friday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. against Western Carolina.

*The men will also be in action again Sunday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. as they host North Texas.

*The University of Alabama will dedicate its new Men's and Women's Golf Facility and Clubhouse this Friday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. at Ol' Colony in Tuscaloosa.

*Former Crimson Tide All-American and PGA Champion, Jerry Pate, has spearheaded this project and more than 100 former UA golfers will be in attendance for this special ceremony on Friday.

*The UA Media Relations Office will provide a shuttle service from the Coleman Coliseum to Ol' Colony for any media members wishing to cover this event.

*The Alabama men's and women's swimming and diving teams will host the Auburn Tigers at 5 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 19 at the UA Aquatic Center. Admission is free.

*The Tuscaloosa County chapter of the Alabama Alumni Association will be hosting a Beat Auburn Pep Rally and Block Party on the UA strip this Friday, Nov. 19 beginning at 7 p.m.

*The Coca-Cola Kickoff on the Quad begins this Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

*The Coca-Cola inflatables will again be present on the Quad at 2:30 p.m. with their usual activities of throwing a football, kicking at mock goal posts and diving for the goal line with bungees attached. In addition to sampling of Coke products, free temporary, stick-on Big Al tattoos and shakers will be distributed while supplies last.

*Eli Gold, Ken Stabler and Tom Roberts host the Jeep pre-game radio show on the Crimson Tide Sports Network from the stage in the shadow of Denny Chimes starting at 12:30 p.m.

*Former Alabama All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath will run out the game ball on Saturday prior to the Auburn game.

*Namath WILL NOT be signing autographs in the Alabama Power Legends Tent.

*The Alabama baseball team will be signing autographs in the Mayfield Dairy Team tent from 12:45-1:30 p.m.

*The Alabama men's tennis team will also be signing autographs at the Mayfield Dairy Team Tent on Saturday.

BAMA HONORS 2004 OLYMPIANS

*The University of Alabama will recognize its 2004 Olympians at halftime of this Saturday's Alabama-Auburn football game.

*The most recognizable name will be former All-American Kelly Kretschman, who was a member of the 2004 US Olympic softball team that won the gold medal this past summer.

*Kretschman and her US softball teammates appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated after dismantling the world at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

SENIOR CLASS BIDS FAREWELL

*The Auburn game will mark the final home game for 18 senior football players.

*The Crimson Tide senior class has the been the glue that has held this program together through the many trying times it has faced in the last five years.

*Many of these 18 players were recruited and signed by former coach Mike DuBose, who was fired after the 2000 season with a 24-23 (.511) career record.

*The 2001 season is the only year this class has participated in the post-season, posting a 14-13 come-from-behind win over Iowa State in the Mainstay Independence Bowl in Shreveport under first-year head coach Dennis Franchione.

*After the season, the Crimson Tide was hit with major NCAA sanctions, including a significant loss of scholarships (21 total) and a two-year (2002-03) bowl ban.

*The class stuck together and led the Crimson Tide to a 10-3 season in 2002, the school's NCAA-leading 27th 10th win season.

*After the win over Hawai'i, Coach Fran bolted for Texas A&M leaving many of the Tide players confused and hurt.

*Alabama's coaching search landed Mike Price, who had a number of successful seasons at Washington State.

*Price, however, never coached a game, as he was terminated by UA President Dr. Robert E. Witt for off-the-field conduct following spring practice.

*With just a few months to the start of the season, Alabama hired former Crimson Tide quarterback Mike Shula to become the school's 26th head coach.

*Shula tool the job just 115 days prior to the start of the 2003 season and due to a series of injuries and misfortune, the Crimson Tide struggled to a 4-9 record against the nation's most difficult schedule.

*Alabama lost to both BCS Championship teams (Oklahoma and LSU) and played the No. 1 team in the nation (Oklahoma) in Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time in school history.

*The nine losses were the second-most by an Alabama team in school history. Only the 1956 team (0-10) lost more football games at UA.

*The 2004 season began with great promise as the Crimson Tide won its first three games and was on the brink of its first national ranking in more than one year.

*But a sudden run of bad luck has the Crimson Tide at 6-4 heading into this Saturday's game with Auburn.

*The 2004 team has lost four players, including a pair of seniors, to season-ending injuries.

*The 1971 Alabama-Auburn game featured two 10-0 teams ranked in the Top 4 in the country. The No. 3 Crimson Tide posted a lopsided 31-7 win over the No. 4 Tigers that day as UA half back Johnny Musso outshined Heisman Trophy winner and AU quarterback Pat Sullivan at Legion Field.

*In addition, No. 1 Nebraska defeated No. 2 Oklahoma 35-31 to set up the Cornhuskers and Crimson Tide in the national championship game at the 1972 Orange Bowl. Nebraska whipped Alabama 38-6 for the national title.

*Auburn, meanwhile, played Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl and was roughed up by the Sooners 43-26.

*Excluding 1971 when both teams where unbeaten and untied, the undefeated team is 10-2 (.833) in the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, with the only loss coming in 1972 and 1989.

*The 35-point win over Ole Miss equalled the most-lopsided win by Alabama over a ranked team in the history of Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide also posted a 35-point win over No. 17 Miss. State (35-0) on Nov. 2, 1974.

*Alabama has compiled an all-time record of 3-9 (.250) against Top 10 teams here in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

*The Crimson Tide (0-4, .000) has never beaten a Top 5 ranked team here in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

MORE RANKINGS

*Since 1977, Alabama has posted a 9-8 (.529) record against Top 5 foes, including three wins over the No. 1 team in the nation.

*Alabama lost to No. 1 Oklahoma (20-13) last season.

*Prior to last year's Oklahoma game, Alabama had not faced a Top 5 opponent since beating No. 5 Florida 45-7 in the 1999 SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

*In fact, Alabama played three teams ranked in the Top 5 during the 1999 season, beating Florida twice and losing to Tennessee.

*The win over Florida in swamp was the biggest upset by Alabama since an unranked Crimson Tide team beat No. 3 Tennessee, 9-6, at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 20, 1990.

*The 1990 win over Tennessee is the biggest upset in Alabama history in terms of an unranked Bama team beating a ranked opponent.

THE ALABAMA-AUBURN SERIES

The battle for bragging rights in the state of Alabama takes place this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, when the University of Alabama meets arch-rival Auburn University.

*The 2004 game in Tuscaloosa is the 69th meeting between these two bitter rivals, with Alabama holding a 38-29-1 (.566) series lead.

*Auburn has won the last two meetings in the series and seeks its first three-game winning streak since posting four straight wins over the Tide from 1986-89.

*In all, Alabama has won nine of the last 14 meetings with the Tigers, dating back to 1990.

*Alabama and Auburn first met in 1893 with the Tigers claiming a 32-22 win in Birmingham. The game was actually played Feb. 22, 1893 at Birmingham's Lakeview Park. The Tide earned its first series win in 1894, claiming an 18-0 victory over the Tigers.

*Auburn built a 6-1 series lead after a four-game winning streak from 1895-1902, in which the Tigers outscored the Crimson Tide, 141-5.

*Alabama answered the Tigers winning streak with a 3-1-1 mark over the next five meetings, ending with a 6-6 tie in 1907. The Crimson Tide posted victories in 1903 (18-6), 1905 (30-0) and 1906 (10-0), while Auburn won in 1904 (29-5). Following a 6-6 tie after the 1907 season, Alabama and Auburn would not play football again for 41 seasons. (See details later on why the series was halted).

*When the series finally resumed in 1948, the Tide emerged as a 55-0 winner at Birmingham's Legion Field. After the Tigers eked out a 14-13 victory in 1949, Bama rebounded to win the next four meetings from 1950-53.

*The next five years (1954-58) momentum swung to Auburn's side of the state as the Tigers put together a five-game winning streak, its longest in the series' 60-game history. Auburn posted easy wins over the Tide in 1954 (28-0), 1955 (26-0), 1956 (34-7) and 1957 (40-0) before "Mama called" and Paul Bryant took over the coaching reigns at Alabama.

*After losing by an average of 30 points per game from 1954-57, the Tide lost by only six points (14-8) in Bryant's first meeting with the Tigers. If not for a fourth-quarter interception on the Tide's potential winning touchdown drive in 1958, Bryant's team may have pulled off the upset.

*Following that narrow loss, Bryant directed Alabama to four straight wins over the Tigers (1959-62), outscoring its arch-rival, 85-0.

*Alabama dominated the series from 1959-68, winning nine of 10 games, including five in a row from 1964-68. A 10-8 Auburn upset of Alabama during the 1963 season kept the Tide from reeling off 10 straight wins over its arch-rival. In 1963, reserve quarterback Mailon Kent came off the bench to lead Auburn to victory.

*The Pat Sullivan-to-Terry Beasley combination proved costly to the Tide in 1969-70, snapping Alabama's five-game winning streak. In 1968, Auburn defeated Alabama 49-26, and followed with a 33-28 win in 1970. In 1969, Bama signal-caller Scott Hunter out-dueled Sullivan, but the Tiger star won the game. Hunter completed 30 of 55 passes for 469 yards in a losing effort for the Tide. Hunter's marks all remain in the Alabama record books as single-game records.

*In 1970, Alabama halfback Johnny Musso carried the ball a school-record 42 times for 221 yards in a loss to the Tigers.

*The following year, Sullivan brought his Heisman Trophy award to Legion Field, but lost to the Tide before a national television audience, 31-7. Musso, who came to the game on crutches with a sore big toe, ran the ball 31 times for 167 yards and two TDs as Alabama beat Auburn, 31-7. Musso was named Associated Press' National Back of the Week for his efforts against the Tigers.

*In 1972, Auburn pulled off a stunning 17-16 win over the second-ranked Crimson Tide. Alabama outgained Auburn (the Tigers had only 57 yards of offense) in total offense and led 16-3 late in the game, when lightning struck not once, but twice. Bill Newton blocked two consecutive Gregg Gantt punts and David Langer scooped them both up and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Auburn pulled off the monumental upset.

*Alabama got revenge in 1973, winning 35-0, and beginning a decade of domination over the Tigers. In addition to its 35-0 win over the Tigers, the UA defense limited Auburn to one first down.

*The Crimson Tide would win the next nine games with Auburn, the longest winning streak in series history. Alabama won all nine games by an average of 16.5 points per game. Alabama also posted shutout wins in 1973 (35-0) and 1975 (28-0). The 1975 game marked the final Alabama-Auburn game for Tiger coaching legend Ralph "Shug" Jordan.

*Bama's most narrow margin of victory was a 17-13 win in 1974. After four straight double-digit wins (1975-78), the Crimson Tide rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Auburn, 25-18, in 1979. Steadman Shealy's run with eight minutes left in the game, preserved Alabama's first undefeated regular-season since 1971.

*The 1981 game will go down as the most memorable day in this state's sports history. Saturday, Nov. 28, 1981 Alabama defeated Auburn 28-17 to make legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant the winningest coach in major college football history. The Tide's fourth-quarter rally gave the "Bear" his 315th coaching victory moving him ahead of Amos Alonzo Stagg as the winningest coach in college football. The game also marked the first meeting between Coach Bryant and former assistant coach Pat Dye, the first-year Auburn coach.

*Auburn ended Alabama's winning streak with a 23-23 win in 1982. Despite out-gaining the Tigers, Alabama lost to its arch-rival for the first time since 1972. AU freshman halfback Bo Jackson scored the winning touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the Bama one. Jackson and Auburn made it two in a row the following year, 23-20. Jackson rushed for 258 yards and scored two touchdowns before heavy rains and the threat of a tornado hovered over Legion Field for the final quarter.

*In 1984 and 1985, Alabama gained the upper-hand winning two games decided by field goals on the final play. In 1984, Auburn's Robert McGinty missed a 35-yarder in the final 30 seconds as Alabama upset Auburn, 17-15. The following year, Van Tiffin nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Alabama a dramatic 25-23 win. The lead changed hands four times in the final 15 minutes with Tiffin's field goal providing the winning margin.

*Auburn won four straight games over Alabama from 1986-89, including a 30-20 decision in the first ever meeting at Jordan-Hare Stadium. AU's four-game winning streak was the school's longest since winning five in a row from 1954-58.

*In Gene Stallings' first-year as head coach (1990), Alabama ended Auburn's run with a 16-7 win. The victory made Stallings the first coach to win his Alabama-Auburn debut since Harold "Red" Drew directed the Tide to a 55-0 rout in 1948, the first meeting between the two schools since 1907.

*The 1992 game marked the final game for Auburn coach Pat Dye, who announced his retirement from coaching. The former assistant coach at Alabama under Paul Bryant, suffered his only career shutout (17-0) in the final game of his career.

*In 1993, Auburn capped a perfect season with a 22-14 win over the Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Trailing 14-8 in the third quarter, Patrick Nix, subbing for the injured Stan White, completed a 35-yard TD pass on fourth-down, cutting Alabama's lead to 14-12 with six minutes left in the third quarter.

Auburn won the game with 10 fourth-quarter points, including a 70-yard run by James Bostic with just over two minutes to play.

*In 1994, Bama jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and held the Tigers on a fourth-down play in the final period to win 21-14. In 1995, the Tigers won 31-27 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, as Alabama's fourth quarter drive ended on a fourth down near the Tigers 20-yard line.

*In 1996, Alabama defeated the Tigers in coach Gene Stallings final regular-season game as the Tide's head coach. The seven-year Tide mentor announced his retirement after the Tide's emotional 24-23 win over the Tigers. Freddie Kitchens' six-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Riddle with 32 seconds to play provided the winning margin.

*In 1997, Alabama (4-6 record) played its most inspired game of the season, and if not for a third-down fumble in the final minute of the game, would have pulled off the series' biggest upset since 1972. After the Ed Scissum fumble, Auburn moved into field goal range when Jaret Holmes nailed the game-winner giving the Tigers an 18-17 win and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

*In 1998, Auburn, playing its most inspired game of the season, jumped out to a quick 17-0 lead over the Crimson Tide, but could not hold on to the lead. Alabama cut the deficit to 17-14 at halftime and cruised in the second half to an easy 31-17 win. The 31 points scored by Alabama were the most in the series since the Tide scored a 34-18 win in 1980.

*Alabama registered its first-ever win in Jordan Hare Stadium with 28-17 win to clinch the SEC Western Division title in 1999. Kindal Morehead's sack, which resulted in a safety, ignited the Crimson Tide. Shaun Alexander rushed for over 100 yards in the final quarter and added three TDs for the Crimson Tide.

*The 2000 game was played in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1901 as Auburn posted a 9-0 win. Three Damon Duval field goals were all the scoring the two teams could muster on a cold, dreary day in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

*It was the first shutout since 1992 when Alabama blanked Auburn, 17-0. It marked the Tigers first shutout of the Crimson Tide since a 10-0 win in 1987. In addition, the 2000 game marked the first time since 1960 that neither team scored a touchdown. Alabama posted a 3-0 win in that 1960 clash.

*Alabama made it two in-a-row at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 31-7 victory in 2001. Andrew Zow led the Crimson Tide offense in the air, while Ahmaad Galloway and Santonio Beard ran for more than 100 yards each in the Crimson Tide's most-lopsided win since a 48-21 victory at Legion Field in 1977. For his efforts, Zow was named the SEC Player of the Week.

*In the 2002 meeting in Tuscaloosa, Auburn built a 17-0 halftime lead en route to a 17-7 win. QB Jason Campbell threw two TD passes in the win over Alabama.

*The Tigers won last year 28-23 in Auburn for their second consecutive series win.

MAGIC NUMBER IS FOUR

*Alabama is 5-2 (.714) against Auburn in years that end with the number four and has not lost to the Tigers since 1954.

*Overall, Alabama has won the game in 1894, 1964, 1974, 1984 and 1994.

*Auburn's wins have come in 1904 and 1954.

ALABAMA OFFENSIVE NOTEBOOK

Alabama has lost four starters to season-ending injuries this year, including Brodie Croyle, Ray Hudson, Tim Castille and David Cavan ... Alabama is 5-1 (.833) when scoring first this season ... Under Shula, Bama is 8-5 (.615) when scoring first ... Alabama is 1-3 (.250) when the opponent scores first this season ... Under Shula, UA is 2-8 (.200) when the opponent scores first ... Alabama snapped an eight-game losing streak against Miss. State (Nov. 6) when the opposition scores first in a game ... Alabama is 4-0 this season when committing one turnover or less ... The Tide is 2-4 this year with two or more turnovers ... Alabama is 4-2 this season when the opposition has two or more turnovers ... UA is 2-2 when the opposition has one turnover or less ... Alabama is 6-0 this season when scoring more than one TD ... The Crimson Tide is 0-4 when scoring one TD or less ... Alabama has committed at least one turnover in eight of 10 games this season, including the last four consecutive games ...The Crimson Tide offense continues to lead the SEC in rushing (215.0) this season ... Alabama also leads the SEC in time of possession (33:39) ... The Crimson Tide also has the SEC's best "red zone" offense this season, scoring on 34 of 38 (.895) chances ... UA's 38 "red zone" chances have resulted in 190 points ... Bama has scored on 19 of its last 20 trips into the "red zone", including 12 TDs ... The Crimson Tide had scored on 19 consecutive "red zone" trips before the controversial interception at LSU (Nov. 13) ... Alabama has rushed for 220 or more yards in seven of its 10 games ... Alabama has had 39 or more rushing attempts in nine of 10 games this year, including the last five in a row ... Bama ranks second in the SEC with 20 rushing TDs ... UA has at least one rushing TD in nine of 10 games this season, including five in a row ... Bama had a season-high 63 rushing attempts for 304 yards in the win at Kentucky, the first 300-yard rushing game in the Shula era ... Kenneth Darby has the third and fourth highest rushing total in the league this season, including 200 yards against Miss. State (3rd) and 197 against Southern Miss (4th) ... Darby also has the top two rushing attempts in the SEC this season, including 36 vs. Miss. State (Nov 6) and 35 at LSU (Nov. 13) ... UA's five rush TDs at Kentucky tie for the most in the league in 2004 ... Alabama has had more time of possession than its opponents in nine of 10 games (S Carolina) ... UA has held the ball for 10+ minutes in 11 of 40 quarters this season ... Alabama held the ball for 41:05 in its win at UK on Oct. 9th ... The last time Alabama held the ball for more than 40 minutes was the 1999 SEC Championship game against Florida (40:11 TOP) ...Alabama's 43 scoring drives have averaged 6.3 plays, 48.6 yards and 2:58 possession time this season ... Bama has 18 scoring drives under two minutes ... UA leads the SEC with 11 scoring drives over five minutes ... Alabama is last in the SEC and 113th nationally in passing yards(123.0) per game this season ... The Crimson Tide has thrown at least one interception in six of its last seven games, including five in a row ... UA did not have an interception in its first three games of the season ... In fact, Alabama opened the season with 77 pass attempts without an interception ... Since then, UA has thrown 10 interceptions in its last 118 attempts ... The starting offensive line has played 3,051 snaps this season ... Senior Evan Mathis has logged 2,768 career snaps, while senior Wesley Britt has 2,756 ... The Crimson Tide has allowed the fewest sacks (13) in the SEC this season ... UA has not allowed a sack in four (Ole Miss, Arkansas, Kentucky and Miss. State) of its 10 games ... Bama quarterbacks Brodie Croyle (7-9), Spencer Pennington (3-3) and Marc Guillon (0-2) are a combined 10-14 (.417) in their 24 career starts for the Tide ... Bama has scored in the second quarter in all 10 games this season and 11 straight games dating back to the 2003 season ... UA has outscored the opposition 87-36 in the second quarter ... UA also has the SEC's best fourth-quarter scoring margin at +40 points, outscoring its opponents 76-36 in the final stanza ... Sophomore receiver Tyrone Prothro is 21 yards shy of 1,000 career all-purpose yards ... Prothro is the only UA player with a least one reception in all 10 games this season ...Overall, Prothro has at least one catch in 16 of his 19 career games, including 16 in a row ... UA has scored at least 40 points in three games in a season for the first time since 1993 ... The last time UA scored 40 or more points four times in a season was 1991 ... UA's 45 points at Kentucky (Oct. 9) are the most in an SEC game since a 45-7 win over Ole Miss in 2000 ... The 45 points are also the most in an SEC road game since a 48-17 win over Vanderbilt in 1991 ... UA's 99-yard scoring drive against Kentucky (14-99-7:30) is tied with Auburn (vs. La. Tech and Ole Miss) for the longest in the SEC this season ... The Crimson Tide also logged a 98-yard scoring drive against Ole Miss (10 plays, 5:24 TOP) earlier this year ... Alabama had two scoring drives of 85 yards or more in the Ole Miss game ... Bama has seven scoring drives this season or 80+ yards ... UA has 23 plays this season of 25 or more yards and 11 plays of 40 or more yards ... Bama has scored 80 points off turnovers this season, including 42 points in the last five games ... Alabama has played two turnover-free games this season (Utah State and Kentucky) ... The last time Alabama did not commit a turnover in an SEC game was Nov. 9, 2002 against Miss. State ... The last time UA did not have a turnover in an SEC road game was Nov. 2, 2002 at Vanderbilt ... Alabama threw a season-high four interceptions in its loss to South Carolina (Oct. 2) ...

ALABAMA DEFENSIVE NOTEBOOK

Alabama has forced an SEC-best 64 three-and-outs this season ... Alabama has allowed the second fewest first downs (125) in the SEC this season (LSU has allowed the fewest, 114) ... Bama leads the SEC in opponents third down conversions (33-for-130, 25.4 percent) ...Bama leads the nation in two defensive categories, including pass defense and pass efficiency defense ... Bama also ranks in the Top 10 nationally in total defense (2nd) and scoring defense (8th) ...Alabama has recorded nine sacks in the last two games against Miss. State (5-31) and LSU (4-30) ... In addition, the Crimson Tide has 21 combined TFLs (-78 yards) in the last two games, including 11 vs. Miss. State (-41) and 10 vs. LSU (-37) ... The Crimson Tide has held its last nine opponents to less than 200 passing yards ... Utah State (205) is the only UA opponent to throw for 200 yards in a game this season ... The Crimson Tide held Southern Miss to just 23 total passing yards in its 27-3 win on Oct. 16th ... It was the fewest passing yards allowed by Alabama since limiting Southern Miss to 21 passing yards in 2001 ...Alabama has held five opponent to less than 200 yards in total offense this season ... The Crimson Tide has allowed the second-fewest TDs (18) in the SEC this season ... Bama has also allowed the fewest passing TDs (8) in the SEC this year ... Alabama has held five opponents under 100 yards rushing this season ... Alabama defense held Kentucky to 29 total yards (19 snaps) in the final 27:17 of the game in Lexington ... During that time, Alabama also forced three turnovers and blocked one punt ... Alabama is fifth in the SEC with 24 sacks (-161) this season ... Bama has at least one sack in seven of its nine games this year ... UA recorded 11 TFLs (-41) in the win over Miss. State ... For the season, Alabama has 68 TFLs (-223), including one in all nine games ... Junior Mark Anderson has at least one TFL in six straight games ... Junior Freddie Roach has one TFL in four straight games ... Alabama has forced at least one turnover in all 10 games this season and 15 straight games, dating back to last season ... The last time Alabama did not force a turnover came in a 43-28 loss at Ole Miss on Oct. 18, 2003 ... The Crimson Tide has forced at least one turnover in 19 of the 23 games under Shula ... UA has forced 21 turnovers this season ... Bama has scored on 12 of those 21 turnovers, resulting in 80 points, including a 31-yard interception return by Simeon Castille in the season opener against Utah State ... The Tide ranks second in opponents points off turnovers (24) to Auburn's league-leading 17 points by opponents ... Bama's defense has allowed only 14 points following 15 UA turnovers this season ... Opponent's defensese have scored 14 points off two UA fumbles (Tennessee and LSU) ... Castille is one of 10 interception returns in the SEC this season ... Alabama has the second-best "red zone" defense in the SEC as opponents have scored on 14 of 20 (.700) possessions ... Bama is third in the league in fewest "red zone" TDs (9) allowed ... Miss. State did not have any trips into the "red zone" ... UA has allowed only 17 "red zone" points (3-for-5) in its six wins this season ... UA has allowed 60 "red zone" points (11-for-15) in its four losses ... Senior linebacker Cornelius Wortham leads Alabama with 71 tackles this season ... He ninth in the SEC with 7.1 tackles per game this season ... He also ranks fourth among linebackers with 71 total tackles ... Harper is 10th among defensive backs with 57 tackles this year ... Redshirt freshman Wallace Gilberry is fourth in the SEC with 6.5 sacks this season ... Gilberry has 3.5 sacks and six total TFLs (-25) in his last two games for Alabama ... He has at least one TFL in seven of 10 games this season, including five of his last six games ... Senior DE Todd Bates has three sacks in seven SEC games this year ... Junior DE Mark Anderson has one TFL in seven straight games .. Junior LB Freddie Roach has one TFL in five straight gamex ... Junior LB DeMeco Ryans has one TFL in three straight games ... Bama has allowed only 16 plays this season of 25 or more yards ... The UA defense has pitched a shutout in 20 of 40 quarters this season ... In a three-game stretch with Ole Miss, Western Carolina and Arkansas, the Alabama defense allowed only 14 points in 11 quarters ... Alabama is the only team in the SEC with at least one shutout in each of the last three seasons ...

ALABAMA SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK

The Crimson Tide leads the SEC and ranks third in the NCAA in kickoff returns (27.0 avg) ... Tyrone Prothro lead the SEC and rank second in the NCAA with his 30.8 kickoff return average but he falls just shy of the NCAA minimum (1.2 returns per game) through 10 games ... Prothro was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week against Kentucky (Oct. 9) ... He tied the Alabama record with a 100-yard kickoff return against Kentucky on Oct. 9th ... It was the seventh 100-yard kickoff return in school history and first since 1988 ... He had two kickoff returns at Kentucky (125 yards) for a 62.5 yard average ... Brandon Brooks (Birmingham) is averaging 24.4 yards per kickoff return this season, which would be second in the SEC and 26th nationally if he had the NCAA required minimum (1.2 per game) number of returns ... By contrast, Alabama is ninth in the SEC and 57th in the NCAA with a 6.7-yard punt return average this season ... Senior punter Bo Freelend (Eutaw, Ala.) is a semifinalist for the 2004 Ray Guy Award, presented annually to the nation's top punter ... He averaged 47 yards on four kicks in the win over Southern Miss (Oct. 16) ... Against Tennessee, he averaged 42.2 yards on a season-high eight punts in the loss to the Vols ... Freelend has punted 20 times in the last three games for a 38.25 average ... Senior kicker Brian Bostick (Cullman) is a semifinalist for the 2004 Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's top place kicker ... Bostick was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in the win over Miss. State (Nov. 6) ... Bostick connected on a career-high three FG attempts, including a season-high 47-yarder in the fourth quarter that gave UA a 23-14 lead ... He also made all three PAT attempts and finished the game with 12 points, one shy of his career high ... In 10 games this season, Bostick has made 46 of 49 (.938) kicks for the Tide, including all 32 PAT attempts ... He is 14-for-17 (.824) in field goals and ranks second in the SEC in field goals per game (1.4), field goal percentage and scoring (7.4) ... In SEC play, Bostick has made 25 of 27 kicks this year, including all 16 PAT attempts and 9 of 11 FGs ... In non SEC action, he has made 21 of 22 (.955) kicks, including all 16 PATs and 5 of 6 FGS ... Bostick has made nine of his last 10 FG attempts, including six in a row ... He has at least one 40-yard FG in three of his last four games ... He has also made seven straight FGs in SEC play ... Redshirt freshman Jamie Christensen (Norcross, Ga.) handles the kickoffs for the Tide ... Christensen has 20 touchbacks in 53 kickoffs this season ... He had four touchbacks in six kickoff attempts against Southern Miss (Oct. 16th) ... Freshman Marcel Stamps (Brantley) had a blocked punt return (29 yards) for a touchdown against Western Carolina ... Anthony Madison recorded his first blocked punt of the season at Kentucky ... It was the second of his UA career ...

ON THIS DATE

*Alabama has compiled an 3-3 (.500) all-time record in games played on November 20th.

*The 2004 Auburn game is just the seventh game in school history played on Nov. 20 and third in the last 56 years.

*The Auburn game will be Alabama's first game on Nov. 20 since a 28-17 win over the Tigers on the Plains in 1999. Shaun Alexander rushed for over 100 yards in the fourth quarter as the Crimson Tide clinched the SEC Western Division title.

*The Crimson Tide's first game on Nov. 13 was a 9-8 win over Haskell Institute in 1908.

*The 2004 Auburn game is also the first game played in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 20 since the win over Haskell in 1908.